FWD: Morning Manna (Jan. 18); BP: Eph. 2:11-22; RBTTY: Mt. 12:24-50;

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:36:04 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Jan. 18); BP: Eph. 2:11-22; RBTTY: Mt. 12:24-50;
 

January 18                                                                                                                  “Christ, Our Peace”

 

“But, now, in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ—for He is our peace, Who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us.”

                                                                                                                                        Ephesians 2:13-14

     When it comes to peace, in Christ we find everything we need.

     Since the beginning of time, there’s been hardly any period when there wasn’t war or conflict somewhere in the world.  Our sinful natures are such that we constantly find ourselves at odds with others and end up trying to vanquish them or vindicate ourselves.

 

     That’s why peace treaties are usually short-lived at best.  Why is that?  Simply because the ones signing the document are still sinners, as are the ones over whom they rule.  And, even if the treaty holds for the rest of their reign, soon after they’re gone there’ll “arise a new king who knew not Joseph” (Ex. 1:8).

 

     Likewise, it’s impossible to experience true peace until we come to know Jesus, the “Prince of Peace” (Is. 9:6).  And, that can only happen when we cease trying to appease God or make things up to Him.  Even on our best days, we still “fall short of God’s glory” (Rom. 3:23) and have to fall down upon His mercy and grace (Lam. 3:21-23; II Cor. 12:9-10).

 

     Our Manna clearly points out that it is Christ Himself Who brings us back to God—not our good works, benevolent deeds, sacrificial acts, etc.  Prior to coming to Him, we were all “strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12).  Simply put, we were “on the outside looking in.”

 

     But, through His death on the Cross, His “blood has brought us nigh” and “justifies (pardons, adopts) us as it saves us from God’s wrath and the curse of the Law” (Rom. 5:9; Gal. 3:10, 13).  Likewise, His Cross becomes the Bridge between God and man.  And, in the process of reconciling us with Him (Rom. 5:10-11), He also “breaks down the middle wall of partition between us.”

 

     Although this is an allusion to the veil in the Temple that separated man from God and to the walls that established a “pecking order” to reach Him (e.g., Court of the Gentiles, Court of the Women, Court of the Men/Israelites, Holy Place and Holiest of Holies), it also refers to the differences that divide us:

 

     Racial differences.  Economic and educational differences.  Religious differences. 

     Throughout His earthly ministry Christ constantly demonstrated how His love “breaks down these barriers” (e.g., the Samaritan woman at the well—Jn. 4:1-29).  But, it wasn’t until His death on the Cross that the veil in the Temple was torn in half and “whosoever” was given access into the very Throne room of God Himself (Rom. 10:9-10; Heb. 4:14-16).

 

     Only Christ can give us “new eyes” where we cease looking at others’ “external” and see them as someone for whom He died.  He wants us to be “one,” Pilgrim (Eph. 2:15-16).  May His Peace prompt us today to “love others as He has loved us” (Jn. 15:12).